European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 24, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 34 the stars and stripes sports wednesday August 24,1994 Irish Michigan own Midwest College football 94 by Rick Gan the associated press Lou Holtz is through agonizing tired of mulling Over last season when he thought notre Dame deserved consideration As the National Champion. Time to move on. It s difficult to put behind me said Holtz entering his ninth season at South Bend. But it is behind  notre Dame climbed from no. 11 Early in the season to no. 1 after beating Florida state in the second to last game Only to lose to Boston College the following week on a last play Field goal. Florida state ended up National Champion eve though it had lost to the Irish and both teams had one loss. The 94 Irish could make those frustrations a Distant memory. Notre Dame returns All five of its top running backs including 1,000-Yard rusher Lee Becton. The Irish offence could be even better if Sophomore quarterback Ron Powlus fulfils his potential after missing his entire freshman season with a broken Clavicle. The kid s got a lot of pressure on him and he has t even taken a snap yet said wide receiver Derrick Mayes what s most important for him is to get that first snap out of the Way and i think after that hell play like the All american everyone expects him to cd 2 notre Dame won t have to play Many games to see How Good it is because the Irish play Host to Michigan on sept. 10. The decision by running Back Tyrone Wheatley to forgo the nil draft and return for his senior season made coach Gary Moeller the happiest Man in Michi Gan. Wheatley rushed for 1,129 Yards and had 13 touch Downs last season in just 10 games and needs Only one touchdown to break the school record of 40 he now shares. The wolverines have seven other starters Back on offence including quarterback Todd Collins what we want to do this year at Michigan is win i Don t care about Heisman trophies and All those things said Moeller. We want Michigan to win and hopefully that will Send a message to a lot of kids tha Tyrone did do the right  the wolverines won their last four games last sea son including a Victory Over North Carolina state in the Hall of Fame bowl. They were one of seven big Apfl Lenotre Dame tosses its chances into Ron Powlus hands. Ten teams to go to a bowl and most coaches in a familiar refrain think their conference is As Strong As Ever. Rose bowl Champion Wisconsin returns 10 Offen Sive starters including conference Rushing Leader Brent Moss who finished with 1,637 Yards and was the map of the badgers Victory Over Urcla in Pasadena. Also Back is 24-year-old quarterback Darrell Bevell and run we runs to head of Heisman pack 1 by Harry Atkins Ann Arbor Mich. A Tyrone Wheatley is fast enough to run away from most problems. Yet he prefers to think things through. That might explain Why Wheatley is still in College ready to Start his senior year at Michigan As a leading contender for the Heisman trophy. After he rushed for 124 Yards and two touchdowns in Michigan s 42-7 Victory Over North Carolina state in the Hall of Fame bowl most people figured Wheatley would pass up his senior year in favor of nil  were wrong. That he decided to stay in school should t have been such a Surprise. Wheatley frequently does the unexpected even if it Means great sacrifice. Take his love affair with track. When he came out of High school Wheatley had blazing Speed. He won state track and Field championships and anchored a winning relay team his senior year. But football at the College level required More time than High school football Ever did. It also required that Wheatley bulk up adding weight and  he now weighs 226 pounds the 6-Foqt-l Wheatley is still a track Star. Last Spring in Only his third race of the year Wheatley won the big ten title in the 110-meter hurdles. It s been my first love Ever since Junior High school Wheatley says. Running track for me has Al ways been fun. But i always wondered after putting Ona few pounds if i d still be  winning the hurdles Crown seems to have answered that question. Now it s time for football and the spotlight that comes with being the preseason Heisman favorite. I have no regrets Wheatley says of his decision to stay in school. I m just looking straight  and so is Michigan coach Gary Moeller. The wolverines stumbled a bit last season finishing 8-4 and out of the Hunt for the National championship Moeller so desperately wants. With Wheatley Back Moeller knows anything can happen. I think it Speaks highly of Michigan and our pro Gram that he stayed Moeller says. His big game in the Hall of Fame bowl made wheat Ley Only the fifth Back in Michigan history to gain More than 3,000 Yards. He has 3,024, just 1,369 shy of Jami Emorris school record. But there Are plenty of big backs with big numbers what sets Wheatley apart is his Knack for the big play. His to runs in Michigan s Rose bowl Victory Over Washington two years ago were spectacular. Last sea son he set up Michigan s first touchdown against Arch rival Ohio state with a 43-Yard run. That s the part of Tyrone that everybody can see " Michigan quarterback Todd Collins says. What Theydon t see is the leadership he provides in Ether ways " Wheatley prefers to Lead by example. Fin not a real vocal person Wheatley says. But think i can be a Leader by just working As hard As i can every Day. If i work hard every Day in practice theother Guys will say he s hurting but hers still giving everything he has they take note of that.". Wheatley has taken note of the Early Heisman Hanebut he puts team goals first. Yvo All i m concerned with is the team aspect wheat Ley says. The rest in t up to me. I just want to Chalk up As much yardage As i can for Michigan not to see now Many Heisman voters i can  Ning Back Terrell Fletcher. Fletcher who gained most of his 996 Yards last season while alternating with Moss will line up in the same Backfield with him this year. The thing i like about them is that they Are really not satisfied with what happened last year Badger coach Barry Alvarez said of his senior heavy team. Penn state which also won 10 games last season starts its second season in the conference with a Capa ble passing combination in Kerry Collins and Bobby Engram who had 48 catches last season and a 1,000 Yard rusher in i Jana Carter. Coach Joe Paterno is tied with Paul Bear Bryant in All time bowl victories with 15. Ohio state the co Champion last season with Wisconsin has 6-foot-5, 315-Pound Junior offensive tackle Korey Stringer and hideout Joey Galloway As two of Only four returning starters on offence. The buckeyes will obviously miss defensive Tacke Dan Wil Kinson but Welcome Back leading Tacker Lorenzo styles. And Don t forget Illinois which returns All 11 starters on defense including linebacker Dana How Ard the big ten defensive player of the year who Lethe league in tackles a year ago. I do believe this collection of linebackers is Proba Bly the finest i be been associated with. We have 11 re turning starters but that does not mean they will walk on the Field sept. 1 and be the Best defense in the country said coach Lou Tepper promising some new schemes. Minnesota s wide open offence produced an upset of Wisconsin and a 59-56 win Over Purdue last season and the gophers return a pair of capable quarterbacks in Scott eckers and Tim Schade. Minnesota s improvement must also come on defense. Northwestern must tighten its defense and also figure a Way to replace quarterback Len Williams. Michigan state has an enormous offensive front that averages 300 pounds and is led by 6-5, 321-Pound Shane Hannah. The spartans will have a new look de sense with Long time nil coordinator Hank Bullough. Iowa which won four straight at the end of the sea son to make a bowl must find a quarterback in coach Hayden Fry s 16th season Indiana has Only three starters Back from a defense that allowed Only 16.4 Points a game last season. Purdue meanwhile must Shore up a defense that allowed 400 Yards and nearly30 Points a game during a one win season. In the mid american conference Western Michigan has 18 returning starters 10 on offence including quarterback Jay Mcdonagh. Up.-. Pfc a learn Success motivates Michigan s Tyrone Wheatley